Today we’d like to introduce you to Rachel Feriend.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
The Jasper Fox Project is a non-profit organization dedicated to supporting families navigating the heartbreak of miscarriage and stillbirth. We craft handmade stuffed foxes weighted to match the exact birth weight of the child who passed away, offering grieving parents a physical touchpoint of remembrance.
Our mission is simple: to ensure no mother has to experience empty arms after a loss.
This mission is deeply personal. After losing our second son, Jasper, six months into pregnancy, my husband and I experienced the devastating reality of leaving the hospital with empty arms. Seeking to offer comfort, my sister-in-law created the very first Jasper Fox weighted precisely to our son’s birth weight—giving me something tangible to hold when I needed it most.
Driven to extend that same comfort to others, I founded The Jasper Fox Project. Today, alongside five dedicated volunteer sewers nationwide, we have delivered over 300 custom foxes to families across 28 states and 4 countries. As we continue to grow, our goal remains steadfast: to foster empathy, raise awareness, and bring hope to families walking through child loss.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Our journey has certainly had its rocky stretches. Crafting high-quality plush foxes meant navigating endless searches for just the right, safe materials, alongside countless late nights spent sewing and stuffing to meet the growing need. Finding volunteers hasn’t always been easy, but the passionate, talented individuals who do step forward make every effort worthwhile. While stretch-funding and securing financial support are ongoing challenges, donations consistently arrive right when we need them most—ensuring every scholarship remains fully covered. The road hasn’t been simple, but looking back, the hard work is overshadowed by the strength of our community and the joy we bring to those we serve.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
My path to founding this organization is rooted in tradition, formal artistic training, and profound purpose. Raised on a 150-acre homestead, I was taught to sew by my grandmother, developing an early appreciation for handmade quality. I went on to turn my passion for creation into an academic foundation, earning a Bachelor of Fine Arts with a double major in painting and ceramics. When tragedy and loss struck our lives, it served as the springboard that brought these two worlds together—channeling my artistic background and lifelong sewing skills into a meaningful mission. Today, that origin shapes how I lead our organization, ensuring every plush fox is crafted with high artistic standards, precision, and deep heart.
What I am most proud of—and what truly sets our organization apart—is the uniqueness woven into every single fox we make. Each plush fox is individually hand-crafted with thoughtfully hand-picked fabrics by the volunteer sewers, ensuring that no two foxes are ever identical. We intentionally design them this way because they are a direct reflection of the children they represent: unique and beautiful in their own way. Bringing that personalized touch, artistic care, and deep sense of comfort to each family is the heart of what we do.
Alright, so to wrap up, is there anything else you’d like to share with us?
To keep bringing these unique sources of comfort to families navigating the painful loss of a child through miscarriage and stillbirth, we need your help. Whether you are a maker wanting to put your skills to a deeply meaningful purpose or a donor looking to cover a scholarship, you can play a vital role in bringing light to a family’s darkest days.
Join Our Sewing Team: If you have a sewing machine and a compassionate heart, we are always looking for volunteer sewers to help us hand-craft these one-of-a-kind foxes.
Donate or Sponsor: Your financial support directly funds our high-quality fabrics, supplies, and the scholarship program—ensuring that cost is never a barrier for a grieving family in need of comfort.
Pricing:
- Mini Memory Fox – $35
- Jasper Fox – $45
- Weighted Blankets – $10
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.jasperfoxproject.org/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jasperfoxproject/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jasperfoxproject/
